high-end hotels usually disappointing?
#61
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,949
...but I absolutely judge a hotel by the quality of its breakfast, and my expectations are high for the best properties.
In Scandinavia, it's judged by how many types of herring are present (personal record, five). In China, the best buffets allow me to assemble two completely separate meals - nothing like protecting your dim sum from baked bean juice with a well-placed hash brown triangle. And in tropical areas, it's all about the variety of available fruits.
Looking back at many of my favorite stays - Sky City Marriott in Hong Kong, The Shelbourne in Dublin, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Hawaii - I realize the common thread binding them all together is a comprehensive, well-executed breakfast.
You know what they say, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...
#62
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,949
For what it's worth, the US does have properties that offer this sort of experience - Residence Inn actually hits the mark pretty well for me. Although it often comes with a lower quality of room furnishings, it still clears the minimum bar. Location is usually the main drawback, but more are starting to get built in city centers rather than in anonymous suburbs (often with slightly higher quality rooms to match).
My experience in NZ is that the average bar is much, much lower than Australia - for whatever reason, outside of Auckland, the Kiwis seem to love their "motor inns". They're clean and perfectly serviceable, but the quality level is a definite step below the average bar of what I've been able to find in equivalent locations in Australia and the management is often less than professional. Perhaps this is influenced by the types of visitors they receive, though - lots of gap year travelers and folks doing the Great Kiwi Road Trip, rather than a steady flow of business travelers?
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
#64
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
I think a lot of nice chain hotels are sterile and boring.
But there are some great hotels out there that aren't...
But there are some great hotels out there that aren't...
#65
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,285
I'm usually most comfortable with a solid, 3.5-star hotel. One that does all the basics right. Occasionally I'll look for 1 or 2 specific extras, like a great breakfast spread or a really inviting pool area, if I expect to have time to enjoy such things on a given trip.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,311
I stay at chains where I m looking for boring, a quick overnight, etc.
Lets face it, generalising, a 'nice' chain hotel is most likely going to attract a very predictable clientele. Businesspeople, old people, and/or stuffy snobs.
Which is great if you're looking for boring.
#67
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
I've always wondered who shops in those stores... Rarely see anyone in them. I mean, if I ever have a huge jones for a $79.99 polo shirt with the hotel's logo on it, I guess I know where to go...
#68
In Scandinavia, it's judged by how many types of herring are present (personal record, five). In China, the best buffets allow me to assemble two completely separate meals - nothing like protecting your dim sum from baked bean juice with a well-placed hash brown triangle. And in tropical areas, it's all about the variety of available fruits.
#69
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
Similar thing here. I avoid high end hotels because I simply don't value most of the costly extras they bundle into the price-- or charge extra for. I'm not interested in a fancy day spa or paying $100 for a one-hour treatment. I don't want to shop for fancy handbags or shoes in the hotel lobby. In fact the mere presence of fancy stores in the hotel is to me a minus because they're usually put in the way of my path between the front door and my room.
I'm usually most comfortable with a solid, 3.5-star hotel. One that does all the basics right. Occasionally I'll look for 1 or 2 specific extras, like a great breakfast spread or a really inviting pool area, if I expect to have time to enjoy such things on a given trip.
I'm usually most comfortable with a solid, 3.5-star hotel. One that does all the basics right. Occasionally I'll look for 1 or 2 specific extras, like a great breakfast spread or a really inviting pool area, if I expect to have time to enjoy such things on a given trip.
On the other hand, there would be no useless gym, expensive spa, space-hogging pool, high-priced bar, or unnecessary conference rooms. The bathroom would not waste space on a bathtub. The lobby would be tiny, with all available space being devoted to the guest rooms. There would be no shops selling anything, not even a minibar in the guest rooms.
Luxury hotels have to excel at everything, even those things that I don't value. So if I want to truly enjoy my stay (as opposed to just having a place to sleep), I have to take the good (large, comfortable guest rooms and bathrooms) with the bad (fancy lobby, gym, pool, spa, bar).
#70
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
High-end doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be to your taste.
There are hotels whose check-in procedure is a half-hour of fawning, please sit here, oh, we'll get you a drink and some hot towels, how lovely of you to choose us, look at our wonderful restaurants, I'll show you to your room and give you a 15-minute tour of how to use televisions and light switches etc, etc. Others will have someone approach with a tablet as you enter, check you in in 10 seconds, and hand you a key, making it clear they're available for any further questions if need be.
Some will assume you're there on business and charge huge markups on extras. Others will think you've paid enough, and include soft drinks, internet, etc as part of the deal.
Some will provide restaurants of good quality but generic international dishes that make you feel at home. Others will give some decent local flavour to make you feel you're away.
Some will have concierges who can get you in anywhere, but will always direct you to rather overpriced options that they get a kickback from. Some will have concierges who listen and have great local knowledge, but fewer contacts.
Some will have exclusive restaurants, bars and leisure facilities that you really need to dress up for. Others will have less impressive but low-key facilities that make you feel relaxed.
Some will have an incredible range of room service options from drinks and snacks to meals, delivered quickly. Others will have more in-room facilities.
Of course, none of these are entirely either/or, but I've certainly encountered both extremes. I strongly dislike fawning service, over-the-top bars and restaurants, taking unnecessary time to do things, etc. I love service that anticipates what I want, has a genuine personal touch, and keeps the formalities to a minimum. But others differ.
FWIW, my favourite hotel is one in India. I felt like they got to know me (my behaviour as a guest was a little unusual for the hotel, admittedly), and on each return, I was visually recognised as soon as I arrived. I got genuine advice on anything I asked, a genuine warmth, and a top-notch Mysore-style masala dosa for breakfast.
There are hotels whose check-in procedure is a half-hour of fawning, please sit here, oh, we'll get you a drink and some hot towels, how lovely of you to choose us, look at our wonderful restaurants, I'll show you to your room and give you a 15-minute tour of how to use televisions and light switches etc, etc. Others will have someone approach with a tablet as you enter, check you in in 10 seconds, and hand you a key, making it clear they're available for any further questions if need be.
Some will assume you're there on business and charge huge markups on extras. Others will think you've paid enough, and include soft drinks, internet, etc as part of the deal.
Some will provide restaurants of good quality but generic international dishes that make you feel at home. Others will give some decent local flavour to make you feel you're away.
Some will have concierges who can get you in anywhere, but will always direct you to rather overpriced options that they get a kickback from. Some will have concierges who listen and have great local knowledge, but fewer contacts.
Some will have exclusive restaurants, bars and leisure facilities that you really need to dress up for. Others will have less impressive but low-key facilities that make you feel relaxed.
Some will have an incredible range of room service options from drinks and snacks to meals, delivered quickly. Others will have more in-room facilities.
Of course, none of these are entirely either/or, but I've certainly encountered both extremes. I strongly dislike fawning service, over-the-top bars and restaurants, taking unnecessary time to do things, etc. I love service that anticipates what I want, has a genuine personal touch, and keeps the formalities to a minimum. But others differ.
FWIW, my favourite hotel is one in India. I felt like they got to know me (my behaviour as a guest was a little unusual for the hotel, admittedly), and on each return, I was visually recognised as soon as I arrived. I got genuine advice on anything I asked, a genuine warmth, and a top-notch Mysore-style masala dosa for breakfast.
#71
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,958
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
safari - style properties are not focused on sitting in 'hotel' room
there are other properties with strong excursion offerings as well
some 'concierges' can provide great access / information
tipping? very limited when considering entire world
some hotels in US say no tipping or include it in rates
stut, there are top properties that deliver what you want
'style' has nothing to do with price etc, as your post concluded
interesting considering NZ has more top properties than AU
perhaps just that AU is too focused on regular/average
(so they even do a better job on that than NZ does)
two completely inaccurate statements / stereotypes / etc
no different than any other stereotypes about "high end"
glad people 'only' know about chain hotels, keeps rates / occupancy lower at other properties
speaking of, true high end properties often lose money / are not about making money
zero comparison to hotels that are designed to have as high of a profit margin as possible
there are other properties with strong excursion offerings as well
some 'concierges' can provide great access / information
tipping? very limited when considering entire world
some hotels in US say no tipping or include it in rates
stut, there are top properties that deliver what you want
'style' has nothing to do with price etc, as your post concluded
perhaps just that AU is too focused on regular/average
(so they even do a better job on that than NZ does)
no different than any other stereotypes about "high end"
speaking of, true high end properties often lose money / are not about making money
zero comparison to hotels that are designed to have as high of a profit margin as possible
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; May 4, 2016 at 8:20 am
#73
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Plat, MR AMB + (LTT) , Hertz PC, UA Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 265
As it happens, SFGate just published a survey of the best and worst hotel chains.
http://www.sfgate.com/life/travel/ar...el-7384827.php
JWM ranks as #1.
http://www.sfgate.com/life/travel/ar...el-7384827.php
JWM ranks as #1.
I guess i've just been staying in bad fairfields.
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
#75
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: YYZ (ex-LHR)
Programs: BA Silver, VS Red, OZ Silver
Posts: 446
I've stayed in a few high-end (ish) hotels when they've been available at reasonable rates and I've always disliked it. The cost of incidental services, like the breakfast and restaurant, are unnecessarily expensive, meaning I won't want to use them, meaning they in essence don't exist. And, maybe it's just my personality type, but I like to walk through a hotel lobby without three people asking if I need help and someone to call the elevator for me.
You also get terrible stares from staff when you request an Uber at a hotel which routinely has supercars casually parked in the drop-off zone.
You also get terrible stares from staff when you request an Uber at a hotel which routinely has supercars casually parked in the drop-off zone.